The result is the Youthmobile 2030 -- a vehicle designed for a generation of drivers that grew up with cell phones, Facebook and Twitter, "Guitar Hero," downloadable skins and webcams. Studios for Audi, GM, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota placed their ideas before judges this week at the LA Auto Show.

A winner will be announced Thursday.

Six Designs for the Youthmobile 2030

"Automotive designers have always been fascinated with the next generation of drivers and this year’s Design Challenge has provided them with the opportunity to use their creative talents to revisit the concept of 'the car' with new eyes, using the hottest technologies to both explore and fulfill the needs of young people," said Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc.

Volkswagen/Audi of America Design Center California gives us the Audi eOra and eSpira. It adapts to the driver's movements and intentions using vehicle control logic -- it knows what you want it to do. The Design Challenge news release states:

"The eSpira takes even the smallest body movements and gestures of the driver into consideration and synchronizes them with the vehicle to result in unmatched agility and responsiveness."

Toyota's Calty Design Research came up with the LINK. It's a customizable mass transit vehicle that allows owners to download "LINK SKINZ" to change the vehicles exterior. Even cooler -- electro-conductive material on the wheels converts friction into energy that recharges the vehicle's batteries.